Thursday, April 10, 2014

How To Develop The Mental Game Of Golf

By Anita Ortega


Golf, one of the more popular games or sports of the world can be classified as a mental game. Many believe that it is more a mental game than a physical sport, which some may say may be a bit of an exaggeration. There is no denying however, that many coaches today do try to have their players improve their mental game of golf so as to improve their overall performance and outcome.

When one watches a round or several rounds of golf, more often than not you will notice a player that is very calm and one who is very agitated. The calm one, regardless of the swing or round outcome retains composure, while the agitated one seems to lose his temper and composure, and thus he also loses his swing. It is no surprise that the calmer player will have the better outcome.

If mental prowess on the course is such a big deal, then one can very well ask why most people focus on the physical aspects. This is because the physical process of the sport is what can be easily be seen and acknowledged. Thus a lot of people tend to focus on the physical, such as stance, the swing, the backswing, the grip and so on and so forth.

It goes however without saying that when one develops a good mental attitude and finesse on the course that a good round will follow. This can be seen in better swings, better accuracy and even reduction in stroke scores. Of course it goes without saying that one will be much more content and happier too.

The best way to develop good mental prowess in this game is for one to get to know him or herself better first. By accepting what one can or cannot do, one can focus more on what can be done and will tend to become a lot calmer. Accepting the fact also that gameplay and results change on a day to day basis can also make you more humble not hot headed on any given time or day.

Learn to visualize the shots before you play them. This is a great process by which others also call visioning. See the shot in your mind and imagine everything about it. Include all the little details like how far, how high and even how you feel when you have hit it. Once you have visualized the shot go ahead and take it. You will be surprised that more often than not, your actual play approximates the one in your head more often than not.

Your mental game is only as good as how relaxed and rested you are. You can only develop a good mind game if you are fully rested and relaxed before playing. You should also be sober. So avoid the sleepless nights and the bottle before any round of golf.

Most importantly of all, go ahead and enjoy the game. Enjoying golf and having fun will do wonders to your mental processes. So go ahead, smile, laugh and swing. Golf is a fun pastime after all. Remember that a positive attitude will do you more wonders than one thousand dry swings to improve your overall handicap.




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